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Keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl+Shift+Esc -> Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del -> Tasks Screen)
Ctrl+Shift+Enter -> Run an executable with elevated privileges
Windows logo key+1-0 -> Launch the shortcuts on the Quick Launch toolbar
Windows logo key+T -> Cycle through programs on the taskbar
Windows logo key+Tab -> Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Flip 3-D
Ctrl+Windows logo key+Tab -> Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Flip 3-D
Windows logo key+Spacebar -> Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar
Windows logo key+G -> Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
Windows logo key+X -> Open Windows Mobility Center
Open a folder and press & release Alt -> Show Menu Bar (also works in Internet Explorer)

• Full list of keyboard shortcuts in Vista
• Internet Explorer 7 Quick Reference Sheet
• Windows Mail keyboard shortcuts


Create an Elevated Command Prompt shortcut

Right click on your Command Prompt shortcut and select Properties.
Click on the Advanced button (at the Shortcut tab), check "Run As Administrator" and click on OK (twice).


UltiMouse Task Controller

This program turns the Mouse into a Task Controller without losing the default functionality of the Mouse Buttons.

Double Click Middle Mouse Button -> Window Switcher (Flip3D)
Back Button + Scroll Up/Down -> Cycle through programs on the Taskbar*
Middle Mouse Button + Scroll Up/Down -> Cycle through Sidebar Gadgets * NEW *
Back Button + Middle Mouse Button -> Up One Level (emulates the Up Button)
Forward Button + Scroll Up/Down -> Maximize/Restore selected program/window
Forward Button + Middle Mouse Button -> Close selected program/window
Middle Mouse Button + Back Button -> Minimize selected program/window
Middle Mouse Button + Forward Button -> Restore last Minimized program/window
Double Click Back Button -> Minimize All
Double Click Forward Button -> UnMinimize All

* When you release the Back Button, the selected program/window is activated.

Install: Copy UltiMouse.exe to anywhere you want and create a shortcut in the Startup folder.
It runs hidden in the background, you can close it with Task Manager.

> UltiMouse.zip ( 171 KB )

Customize the appearance of Windows Sidebar

Windows Sidebar Styler is an application designed to allow users to tweak the Sidebar’s User Interface.
Custom styles allow users to customize the appearance of Windows Sidebar so that it fits the style of other UI elements, such as the Aero Glass colorization or third party themes.
You can save your visual styles and share them with other users.

​ ​ ​ ​

Windows Sidebar Styler also adds support for WPF Gadgets; Gadgets now take full advantage of Windows Presentation Foundation - a powerful managed code-oriented framework for presenting rich visual compositions such as vector graphics, 3D drawing, animations and more.

   Original:      Minimalistic Style:  

The visual styles below remove the grey Panel background, the "Add Gadgets" button + the Close, Config & the Gripper buttons that appear when you hover over the Gadgets (see image above). You can still access these functions in the right click menu from the Sidebar & Gadgets. The MinimalistiClear Style also removes the backgrounds.

Convert web widgets into gadgets for Windows Sidebar

With Amnesty™ Generator you can convert millions of web widgets, games and videos – designed to live on home pages, blogs or MySpace – into gadgets for your Sidebar.

   

Key Features:
• Create gadgets without coding experience
• Autofill feature does the work for you
• Inline step-by-step instructions included
• Supports Flash widgets, games and video

| Homepage | Direct Download | F.A.Q. |


Deleting the Undeletable (source)

Quote - (Tim Sneath)

As many of us move forward from Windows XP or prior beta versions of Windows Vista to the final RTM version, I thought this little tip might be in order. You may be aware that Windows Vista includes a number of different ways to upgrade a computer, from a straight in-place upgrade (insert CD, run setup and choose upgrade) to Windows Easy Transfer, which allows you to copy settings, programs and data from an old setup a fresh shiny new OS environment. In doing this, it's not unusual to find some folders that can't be accessed, even by an administrator, because their ACLs were set for accounts with SIDs that applied to an old partition.

How do you take it back? -> The secret lies in two command-line utilities, one ancient, the other completely revised for this release. Respectively, these are takeown (which takes ownership of a file or directory) and icacls (which sets new ACLs on that directory). I created a small batch command on my system called itsmine.cmd, as follows:

takeown /f %1 /r /d y
icacls %1 /grant administrators:F /t

From an elevated command prompt, you can run a command such as itsmine D:\hard_to_delete and this will reset ownership and ACLs on the hard_to_delete directory such that a command like rd /s D:\hard_to_delete should work.

Take Ownership Context Menu Item

TakeOwn.reg adds a Take Ownership Context Menu Item to all files and folders. It opens an Elevated Command Prompt which recovers full access to the selected file / directory, sub directories and their content.
You can access the Context Menu Item by holding down Shift + right-click on a file or folder.

    

If you want to access the Take Ownership Context Menu Item on an exe file, you must merge "RunAsAdmin_Exe-.reg"; this reg file removes the "Run as Administrator" Context Menu Item from all exe files (they both use the runas key). Merge "RunAsAdmin_Exe+.reg" if you want to restore the "Run as Administrator" Context Menu Item.

Install: Merge TakeOwn+.reg
Uninstall: Merge TakeOwn-.reg

> TakeOwn.zip ( 1,99 KB )


Enable Advanced Disk Performance

When enabled, the hard disk drive operates in write-back cache mode, in which all the data that gets written to the drive is first stored in the cache, and then later written to the disk. Both writes and reads are cached in this case. When disabled, the HDD operates in write-through cache mode, in which all data that gets written to the drive is immediately written to the disks and also stored in the cache. Writes are not cached, but reads are.

Note: This setting is recommended only for disks with a backup power supply, it further improves disk performance, but it also increases the risk of data loss if the disk loses power.

Open Device Manager, expand Disk drives, right-click on a Disk drive, click Properties, click the Policies tab, select the Enable advanced performance check box, and then click OK.


Resize the Details Pane

Right-click on an empty part of the Details Pane and select one of the sizes:




Shell Commands for Windows Vista (source)

The shell: command can be used to open a special folder directly from the Start, Search menu. For example, the command shell:SendTo opens the SendTo folder (%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo). To launch the Documents folder of your User Profile, you'd type shell:Personal. Below is a complete shell: commands listing for Windows Vista. The entire listing is stored in the following registry key in Windows Vista:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\FolderDescriptions]

shell: commands for Windows Vista:
shell:AddNewProgramsFolder - shell:Administrative Tools - shell:AppData - shell:AppUpdatesFolder - shell:Cache - shell:CD Burning - shell:ChangeRemoveProgramsFolder - shell:Common Administrative Tools - shell:Common AppData - shell:Common Desktop - shell:Common Documents - shell:Common Programs - shell:Common Start Menu - shell:Common Startup - shell:Common Templates - shell:CommonDownloads - shell:CommonMusic - shell:CommonPictures - shell:CommonVideo - shell:ConflictFolder - shell:ConnectionsFolder - shell:Contacts - shell:ControlPanelFolder - shell:Cookies - shell:CredentialManager - shell:CryptoKeys - shell:CSCFolder - shell:Default Gadgets - shell:Desktop - shell:Downloads - shell:DpapiKeys - shell:Favorites - shell:Fonts - shell:Gadgets - shell:Games - shell:GameTasks - shell:History - shell:InternetFolder - shell:Links - shell:Local AppData - shell:LocalAppDataLow - shell:LocalizedResourcesDir - shell:MAPIFolder - shell:My Music - shell:My Pictures - shell:My Video - shell:MyComputerFolder - shell:NetHood - shell:NetworkPlacesFolder - shell:OEM Links - shell:Original Images - shell:Personal - shell:PhotoAlbums - shell:Playlists - shell:PrintersFolder - shell:PrintHood - shell:Profile - shell:ProgramFiles - shell:ProgramFilesCommon - shell:ProgramFilesCommonX86 - shell:ProgramFilesX86 - shell:Programs - shell:Public - shell:PublicGameTasks - shell:Quick Launch - shell:Recent - shell:RecycleBinFolder - shell:ResourceDir - shell:SampleMusic - shell:SamplePictures - shell:SamplePlaylists - shell:SampleVideos - shell:SavedGames - shell:Searches - shell:SearchHomeFolder - shell:SendTo - shell:Start Menu - shell:Startup - shell:SyncCenterFolder - shell:SyncResultsFolder - shell:SyncSetupFolder - shell:System - shell:SystemCertificates - shell:SystemX86 - shell:Templates - shell:TreePropertiesFolder - shell:UserProfiles - shell:UsersFilesFolder - shell:Windows


Repartition a hard disk by using the Shrink feature

Note: Backup Operator or Administrator is the minimum membership required to complete the actions below.
Caution: If the partition is a raw partition (that is, one without a file system) that contains data (such as a database file), shrinking the partition may destroy the data! For detailed information, open Disk Management, click Help on the menu bar, click Manage Basic Volumes, and then click Shrink a Basic Volume.

Shrink an existing partition to create new unallocated space, from which you can create a new partition:
Open the Start Menu, right-click on Computer, click Manage, expand Storage & select Disk Management.
Right-click a partition, select Shrink Volume, Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB & click Shrink.
Right-click the new unallocated space, click New simple volume, click Next, Enter the Simple volume size in MB, click Next, assign a drive letter, click Next, Enter the Volume label, click Next, and then click Finish.


Enable support for 4GB of RAM (or more) in Vista 32-bit

On a computer that has 4 GB of RAM, the System Properties dialog box and the System Information dialog box may report less memory than you expect. This problem occurs because the address space is limited to 4 GB in a 32-bit hardware environment. Memory may be relocated to make room for addresses that the basic input/output system (BIOS) reserves for hardware. However, because of this limitation, Windows Vista cannot access memory that is relocated above the 4 GB boundary.

Solution: Open an elevated Command Prompt, type BCDEdit /set pae ForceEnable and press Enter.

The pae parameter enables Physical Address Extension (PAE). On 32-bit versions of Windows, PAE is disabled by default. PAE is an addressing strategy that uses a page-translation hierarchy to enable systems with 32-bit addressing to address more than 4 GB of physical memory. PAE also supports several advanced system and processor features, such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP; "No execute"), Non-Uniform Memory Architecture (NUMA), and hot-add memory, so it is also used on computers with less than 4 GB of memory. PAE must be supported by the processor.

On a computer that supports hardware-enabled Data Execution Prevention (DEP), PAE is automatically enabled when DEP is enabled and automatically disabled when you disable DEP. To enable PAE when DEP is disabled, you must enable PAE explicitly: Open an elevated Command Prompt.
Type BCDEdit /set nx AlwaysOff & BCDEdit /set pae ForceEnable and press Enter.

Info & Sources:
• Memory Limits for Windows Releases
• Windows Vista may report less memory than you expect
• Boot Parameters to Configure DEP and PAE
• BCDEdit /set Parameters

Extend the Start Menu Search functionality with Start++

Brandon Paddock (Brandon Live), who works on Search technology for Windows at Microsoft, developed a very useful add-on to Vista’s Start Menu Search box: Start++, it extends the Start Menu Search box, the Run box and the command-line with customizable commands, you can set these commands to run with administrator privileges (sudo command). You can create an alias for anything you want and export it so you can share it with other users.

Type playartist Nightwish and it performs a search for music with the artist Nightwish, writes the results to a .M3U file and play it in Windows Media Player. Type g hullabaloo to search for hullabaloo on Google.

     

Picture Gadget ^^: Type pic into the Start Menu Search box followed by your query terms.

Change services according to your computer config

• Windows Vista Service Configurations by Black Viper
• Disabling Services guide by Slimy
• SpeedyVista - Service Guide

Enable or disable Secure Logon (Ctrl+Alt+Delete)

It's important to keep your computer as secure as possible. One way to do so is to enable Secure Logon so that you are required to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to log on. Using secure logon provides an additional layer of security for your computer by ensuring that the authentic Windows logon screen appears. When secure logon is enabled, no other program (such as a virus or spyware) can intercept your user name and password as you enter it.

Open Advanced User Accounts -> Press the Windows button, type netplwiz and press Enter.
Click the Advanced tab, select the Require users to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete check box, and then click OK.

Make your Admin account act like in XP

Make your Vista's admin account act like in XP guide by Tantawi


Replace Vista's startup sound

How to replace Vista's startup sound guide by rm20010


Change the Start Menu Power button to Shut Down instead of Sleep

Open the Control Panel and click on Power Options. Select the Power Plan that you want to use and click on "Change plan settings". Click on Change advanced power settings, double click on "Power buttons and lid". Double click on "Start menu power button", change the Setting to Shut down.
Or,.. merge PowerButtonShutdown.reg and Log off or Restart to apply changes.

> PowerButton.zip ( 1,31 KB )

Extended Disc Cleanup

The command line parameters sageset & sagerun still work in Vista. You can set it to delete files from a previous Windows installation, error dump files, Temporary Windows installation files, Thumbnails, Files discarded by Windows upgrade, Error Reporting Files, ect. Note: It performs a Disc Cleanup on all disks.

You can use the shortcut in the attached zip file or create a new shortcut with this command line:
%SystemRoot%\System32\Cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr /sageset:65535 & Cleanmgr /sagerun:65535
Edit the shortcut (Right click and select Properties), set it to run Minimized and change the Icon to %SystemRoot%\System32\Cleanmgr.exe.

> ExtendedDiscCleanup.zip ( 660 bytes )

Enable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in Internet Explorer 7 (source)

Because browsers can host plug-in extensibility, security settings within the browser can make plug-ins fail. This is why in Internet Explorer 7 Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is off by default. Two of the most well-known and commonly used browser plug-ins, the Adobe Acrobat/Reader browser helper object and the Adobe Flash Player, now run when DEP is enabled. You can enable DEP by navigating to the following dialog and checking the highlighted option shown below (note, you must elevated to admin first, otherwise the option is grayed out).

   

Edit the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)

EasyBCD is NeoSmart Technologies' multiple award-winning answer to tweaking the new Windows Vista bootloader. With EasyBCD, almost anything is possible. Setting up and configuring Windows boot entries is simple, and there is no easier way to quickly boot right into Linux, Mac OS X, or BSD straight from the Windows Vista bootloader - on the fly, no expert knowledge needed!

Automated MBR and BCD backups, boot sector restore kits, support for a dozen+ operating systems, detailed configuration of all boot entries, and award-winning guaranteed technical support is what makes EasyBCD stand out - all for free!


Configuring User Account Control (UAC)

• What is User Account Control
• User Account Control Step by Step Guide
• Configuring User Account Control settings

If you want to reduce your mouse clicks by at least 25%, here's how to turn it off: Open the Start Menu and click on your User Picture, click Turn User Account Control on or Off, clear the "Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer" check box, click OK and restart your computer.


Make User Account Control (UAC) Stop Blacking Out the Screen (source)

Windows Vista Business/Ultimate Users:
To get to the configuration screen for this, type in security to the start menu search box.
You should see the Local Security Policy as the top search item.
In the Local Security Policy window, browse down to Local Policies \ Security Options.
Over in the right hand part of the window, scroll down near the bottom and find the item titled “User Account Control: Switch to the secure desktop when prompting for elevation”
Double-click on the item, and change it to disabled and then click OK.
Note: This does make your system slightly less secure, so be warned.

Windows Vista Home Users:
Press the Windows key, type regedit and press Enter. Browse down to this registry key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
You should see a key called PromptOnSecureDesktop. Double-click this and change the value to 0

Toggle Check Boxes Context Menu Item

You can set up Windows to add check boxes to file views (see picture) to make it easier to select several files at once.
This gives you the option to select files without having to press keys on your keyboard, and helps ensure that you won't accidentally lose your file selection if you click the wrong location.

   

You can enable this feature in "Folder and Search Options":
Open a Folder, click the Organize button, click "Folder and Search Options", click the View tab, select the Use check boxes to select items check box, and click OK.

The files in the zip file below add a "Toggle Check Boxes" Context Menu Item to all folders.
You can access the Context Menu Item by holding down Shift + right-click on/in a folder.

Install: Copy TCB.exe to your Windows directory and merge "Add ToggleCheckBoxes.reg".
Uninstall: Remove TCB.exe from your Windows directory and merge "Remove ToggleCheckBoxes.reg".

> ToggleCheckBoxes.zip ( 170 KB )

Enable the Aurora boot screen (source)

If you are tired of the default boot screen in Windows Vista, there is a better looking one hidden away:

1) Press the Windows button, type msconfig and press Enter.
2) If User Account Control prompts you to allow the action, click on Continue.
3) In the "System Configuration" window, click on the Boot tab.
4) Select your Windows Vista installation and under "Boot options", check "No GUI boot".
Press OK.
5) In the dialog that appears, check "Don’t show this message again", and then click on Restart.
6) Your computer will now reboot, and you will see the Aurora boot screen with text that says "Starting Windows Vista".

Disable Hibernation & delete the Hibernation file (source)

Windows places a file on your hard drive that it uses when your computer goes into hibernation mode. If you do not use hibernation mode, or your computer does not properly support it, you may want to disable hibernation and clear the file off your hard drive to free up some space (the file will use as much space as you have in physical memory, so if you have 1GB of RAM, it’s going to use 1GB of your hard drive space).

Disable Hibernation:
1. Click Start, All Programs, and then right click on "Command Prompt".
2. From the context menu click on "Run as administrator".
3. If User Account Control prompts you to allow the action, click on Continue.
4. In the command prompt window, type "powercfg –h off" (without the quotes).
4. Close the Command Prompt window.

Delete the Hibernation File:
1. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then click "Disk Cleanup".
2. If prompted to choose a drive, select the drive in which Windows Vista is installed on to and press OK.
3. Disk Cleanup will scan the hard drive and present you with a list of options.
4. Check "Hibernation File Cleaner", and then click OK.
5. When asked "Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?" click on the Delete Files button.


Hidden Open Command Window Here Context Menu item

Open a folder, press Shift + Right Click -> Open Command Window Here


Nameless Recycle Bin

Everybody can see, by looking at the icon, that it's the Recycle Bin right?.., so why name it?!
Merge RecycleBin_NoName.reg and refresh your Desktop and the name is gone.
Merge RecycleBin_Default.reg and refresh your Desktop to restore the name.

> NamelessRecycleBin.zip ( 881 bytes )


Enhanced Recycle Bin Menu

ERBM+.reg replaces the Delete command from the Recycle Bin with a Clear Temp command.
This prevents users from accidentally deleting the Recycle Bin Icon from the Desktop.
It also adds a Disk Cleanup command which performs an Extended Disc Cleanup on all disks.
The Clear Temp command clears both Temp dirs: %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Temp and %SystemRoot%\Temp.

   

Install: merge ERBM+.reg
Uninstall: merge ERBM-.reg

> ERBM.zip ( 1,41 KB )


Add Window Switcher to the context menu from all folders

The reg file in the zip file below adds the Window Switcher (Flip 3D) command to the Right click menu from all folders (including the Desktop).

> Flip3D.zip ( 893 bytes )


Huuuuuuuge Icons on your Desktop

Click on your Desktop, press Ctrl + Scroll Up (this works in any folder).
You can make them larger then when you select Large Icons from the menu (Right Click -> View -> Large Icons).

Show/Hide File Extensions Context Menu Item

The files in the zip file below add a "Show/Hide File Extensions" Context Menu Item to all folders.
You can access the Context Menu Item by holding down Shift + right-click on/in a folder.
It Hides or Unhides the File Extensions + refreshes the directory.

Install: Copy SHFileExt.exe to your System32 directory and merge "Add SHFileExt.reg".
Uninstall: Remove SHFileExt.exe from your System32 directory and merge "Remove SHFileExt.reg".

> SHFileExt_Vista.zip ( 206 KB )


MinUnMinAll - Toggle MinimizeAll/UndoMinimizeAll (alternative for Show Desktop)

The Show Desktop command minimizes all applications + it sets the Z-Order of the Desktop to topmost.
It also hides applications that you don't want to hide: the Sidebar, docks, calendars, widgets, etc.
MinUnMinAll simply minimizes all applications that support the minimize operation (also works in XP).

Install: Copy MinUnMinAll.exe to anywhere you want and create a shortcut in Quick Launch.

> MinUnMinAll.zip ( 213 KB )


Replace the Win+D hotkey with Win+M - Win+Shift+M

Win+D.exe replaces the Win+D hotkey (Show Desktop) with Win+M - Win+Shift+M (Toggle MinimizeAll / UndoMinimizeAll). It runs hidden in the background, you can close it with Task Manager.

Install: Copy Win+D.exe to anywhere you want and create a shortcut in the Startup folder.

> Win+D.zip ( 203 KB )


Add the Run command to the Start Menu

Right-click on the Start Button and select Properties, click Customize, scroll down and check the Run command check box, click OK, click Apply and OK.


Start Menu Search box -> Run dialog box

You can use the Start Menu Search box to launch programs like the Run dialog box.

 

Credits: http://www.neowin.net